| Meeting Information |
To visit the H-GAC website for a list of all upcoming meetings
click here.
To get a list of other environmentally related meetings and events in our region
click here.
 In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, H-GAC will provide for reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities attending H-GAC functions. Requests should be received 24 hours prior to the function. Call the meeting organizer to make arrangements.
As part of our commitment to Going Green,  H-GAC's Community and Environmental Planning Department encourages meeting attendees to bring their own mug or cup to all meetings.
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| Banner Photo |
Fall harvest at Houston's Farmers Market (Canino Produce) on Airline Drive.
Photo by Andrew Pompei
Would you like for us to consider featuring your municipality, program or regional photo on the C&E Planning Update banner? Just forward your picture, along with some information about the subject and the photographer, and you might see it in a future month's newsletter.
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Register Today for Keeping Us Moving Workshop
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This half-day workshop will be at the Norris Conference Center, CITYCENTRE, 816 Town and Country Blvd., Houston. The event offers a collaborative forum around topics related to the Livable Centers and Pedestrian/Bicyclist programs at H-GAC.
The program will include a luncheon with keynote speaker Adam Thies, former Director of the Department of Metropolitan Development for the City of Indianapolis.
The workshop includes two afternoon breakout sessions: Emerging Trends, highlighting technical and policy considerations in transportation planning; and Back to Basics, touching on planning, funding, and H-GAC tools.
CM credits have been submitted to the Texas APA for keynote and breakout sessions.
Registration for this event is $45 and must be paid in advance
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Keynote Speaker
Adam Thies,
Former Director of the Department of Metropolitan Development, Indianapolis, Indiana
Showcase Presentation
Jeff Taebel,
Director Community and Environmental Planning, H-GAC
Back to Basics Track
Experts from Greater East End Management District, H-GAC, Marsh Darcy Partners, and The Goodman Corporation,
will discuss The Nuts and Bolts of Planning for Livable Centers and Ped/Bike Facilities, How to Make Your Organization Competitive for Funding, and Tools that H-GAC has to Support Your Organization.
Emerging Trends Track
Experts from H-GAC, Healthy Living Matters, the City of Houston, NuRide, NASA ,the City of Pasadena, and Steer Davies Gleave, will discuss new technical and policy considerations in the transportation planning field, including Overcoming Last Mile Issues, The Public Health/Built Environment Connection, and Commute Solutions as a Business Solution.
A full list of speakers is available
online,
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| PNA Subcommittee to Tour Award-Winning Parks |
|  The next Parks and Natural Areas (PNA) Subcommittee field trip will be from 9:30 to 11:15 a.m. Monday, November 9, in Fulshear. Participants will tour two previous PNA Award winners - Cross Creek Ranch/Flewellan Creek Restoration Project and the Irene Stern Butterfly Garden.
Participants will provide their own transportation and meet at the Arbor Park parking lot at Cross Creek Ranch at 9:30 a.m. Rob Bamford of Johnson Development will highlight park amenities and functional environmental systems of the Flewellan Creek Restoration Project, 2013 PNA Award Winner.
The next stop is the Irene Stern Butterfly Garden, 2013 PNA Award Honorable Mention recipient, where Ramona Ridge, Fulshear City Councilmember and Fulshear Parks Commissioner, will lead the tour.
To participate in the tour, RSVP with your cell phone number to Mary Martha Gaiennie at 713-993-2468 by Friday, November 6.
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| Texas Land Trends is Topic for CWI Webinar |
|  Texas Land Trends will be the focus of the next Clean Waters Initiative Workshop. This workshop will be presented by webinar from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 17.
Dr. Roel Lopez, Director of the Texas A&M Institute of Renewable Natural Resources and Professor in the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences at Texas A&M University, will describe the current findings of the Texas Land Trends Report. The report provides an overview on the status of and recent changes in land use, ownership size, and land values of privately owned Texas farms, ranches, and forests, collectively known as working lands.
The workshop via webinar is free, but you must register online. |
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Save the Date for the Next Fall Planning Workshop
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At this half-day event, hear how communities are marketing themselves, engaging stakeholders, and quickly implementing on-the-ground projects to create a vibrant place to live, work, and play. Expert speakers will offer tips on knowing your community, getting people engaged and excited, getting started, and promoting your community.
Each year, H-GAC presents a fall planning workshop for local governments featuring presentations on best planning practices for communities. There is no cost to attend this workshop, but space is limited.
More information is available online.
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|  Focus On - America Recycles Day
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 Since 1997, Keep America Beautiful (KAB) has promoted America Recycles Day on November 15. America Recycles Day is a coast-to-coast community-driven awareness campaign dedicated to celebrating recycling in the United States. During this year's America Recycles Day, KAB is focusing on some often-forgotten consumer products - items in the bathroom, plastic bags and film wrap, and electronic gadgets.
Want to be a part of America Recycles Day?
Take the pledge
- Commit to recycle more and take the "I Will Recycle" pledge at americarecyclesday.org/pledge. You may select a specific item that you're especially interested in recycling and pledge to recycle more of that item in the future.
- After pledging to recycle, demonstrate your recycling spirit to friends and other committed recyclers. Post a photo of yourself holding a recyclable product that you pledged to recycle. Use the hashtag #IWillRecycle on Instagram and Twitter for a chance to be randomly selected to win a prize.
Attend an event
- Visit americarecyclesday.org/events to find an event near you. There are several events already scheduled around the Houston area. Check back often as more events are added every day.
Host an event
- America Recycles Day is a chance for event organizers to educate neighbors, friends, and colleagues on the importance of recycling. Keep America Beautiful provides guides, activities, promotional ideas, and more to help you make your event a success. Visit americarecyclesday.org/toolkit to learn more.
 Looking for educational give-aways for your event or just something to help promote recycling every day? H-GAC has a couple you might like.
H-GAC offers recycling activity books for elementary school students in grades 2-3 and 4-5. Students can follow cartoon birds Jasmine, Pablo, Lola, and Michael as they reduce, reuse, compost, and recycle through a variety of fun and educational activities. Students who complete the activities can fill out a certificate on the back of the book recognizing their achievement as a "Recycling Star."
H-GAC also has matching stickers available for rewards. You can print the books from the H-GAC website. Contact Erin Livingston at 832-681-2525 for more information about the stickers.
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| Disaster Debris Clearance and Removal Contracts Save Time, Money |
|  Recognizing the need for communities to perform efficient and timely cleanup of debris generated by natural disasters, H-GAC has developed the Disaster Debris Clearance and Removal Services Program. By having debris hauler contracts in place prior to events, cleanup can be quicker and less costly.
Procuring reputable and experienced firms can be challenging. H-GAC has already handled many of the procurement issues for local governments. The Disaster Debris Clearance and Removal Services Program offers access to a pool of the most qualified debris removal contractors, saves time and money associated with the procurement process, and helps maximize eligible FEMA reimbursement.
To learn how to participate in the program, contact Cheryl Mergo at 713-993-4520.
As a reminder, hurricane evacuation maps, including zip zone evacuation, surge zone, and evacuation routes, can be found on the H-GAC website.
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| Pedestrian-Bicyclist Counters Available |
|  H-GAC promotes walking and bicycling by helping determine the demand for pedestrian-bicyclist facilities. H-GAC has temporary pedestrian-bicyclist counters available for use by local governments to count the number of people using sidewalks and/or trails, giving implementing entities and H-GAC a better understanding of the demand and use of these facilities. For information about borrowing the counters, contact Andrew Pompei at 832-681-2598. |
| Be a Part of the 23rd Annual River, Lakes, Bays 'N Bayous Trash Bash® |
|  The 23rd River, Lakes, Bays 'N Bayous Trash Bash® is Saturday, April 2, 2016. Become a sponsor. Trash Bash® is made possible through generous contributions and support by sponsors. Check out Sponsorship Levels and Benefits to see how your organization can benefit as a Trash Bash® partner while making a significant positive impact on local waterways. Volunteers Needed. Since its inception, more than 98,000 volunteers have collected nearly 2,100 tons of trash, 1.3 tons of recyclable materials, and 9,600 tires. Learn how to volunteer to help clean up and promote a healthy Galveston Bay watershed. |
| Camera-Sharing Program Helps to Combat Illegal Dumping |
|  To help track and reduce illegal dumping, H-GAC offers surveillance cameras and accompanying accessories through a sharing program. The cameras can capture clear videos day or night, including license plates of cars traveling up to 50 mph.
Participation in the program is for local governments within the 13-county H-GAC region and involves specific agreements, including a commitment to use the cameras for solid waste purposes 100 percent of the time and report results to H-GAC. To allow easier access to local governments, ownership of the cameras has been transferred to Fort Bend, Galveston, and Walker counties. To access the cameras, borrow them from one of those three counties. For more information, contact Erin Livingston at 832-681-2525. |
| National Organization Recognizes Local Park as Great Place in America |
|  The American Planning Association (APA) recently named Hermann Park as one its 2015 Great Places in America. One out of only 15 places across the country to receive this recognition, Hermann Park was listed in the Public Spaces category for planning excellence. The program recognizes unique and exemplary streets, neighborhoods, and public spaces - three essential components of all communities.
According to APA, Hermann Park is one of Houston's most-visited parks, with approximately six million visitors annually. It is centrally located and connects to nearby hospitals, universities, neighborhoods, a zoo, several museums, and downtown Houston via the METRO transit system. Three METRO stations adjacent to the park help connect people from around the metropolitan area to Hermann Park.
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| Houston Bike Plan Update |
|  The City of Houston's Houston Bike Plan team is currently developing a draft plan, including identifying programs, policies, and projects to create a successful bicycle network in Houston. The plan will be aligned with the vision and goals developed earlier this year with the help of the Bicycle Advisory Committee and feedback from the public. At the end of the year, a draft plan will be available online for public review and feedback, and the Houston Bike Plan team will be asking you if they got it right or if there is something they missed. Visit www.houstonbikeplan.org to view the Plan vision and goals and sign up for email updates. |
| Houston Wilderness Seeking Hosts for Annual Luncheon |
|  The deadline to join the Houston Wilderness Annual Luncheon as a host has been extended one more week. The deadline to join is now Friday, November 6. The annual luncheon is scheduled for Tuesday, February 16, 2016, at the River Oaks Country Club.
Host levels are available from $2,500 to $25,000 and include a table of 10 at the luncheon.
Each year during the luncheon, Houston Wilderness highlights noteworthy conservation successes with the presentation of the Wild Life Award. This year, the award will recognize Henry Hamman for his "dedication to wildlife management, his profound appreciation of and respect for this region's natural areas, and his environmental philanthropy."
Another highlight of the luncheon will be the discussion of the Gulf-Houston Regional Conservation Plan. This plan represents the work of more than 100 members of the environmental community and is presented as a collection of planned environmental projects and recreational initiatives. More information is available online. |
| TDEM Application Development Workshop to be November 16 |
|  The Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) Houston Field Office will host an Application Development Workshop on Monday, November 16, from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at H-GAC Conference Room A, Second Floor.
This workshop will be beneficial for anyone interested in submitting applications for hazard mitigation grant program funding under the DR- 4223 (Memorial Day 2015 floods). The deadline for submitting applications under this disaster is Tuesday, December 15.
This workshop will also be helpful for applicants putting together an application for the first time and will introduce participants to local points of contact who can answer questions throughout the grant process.
For more information, contact Jeffrey LaCour at 713-967-7013.
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| Wetland Delineation Training Course Set for November 16-19 in Huntsville |
|  The Texas Research Institute for Environmental Studies (TRIES)will host a wetland delineation training course November 16-19 at Sam Houston State University, Huntsville.
The four-day training course will focus on the use and mastery of the Army Corp of Engineers 1087 and Atlantic & Gulf Plain Regional Supplement manuals. The course will look at the legal, theoretical, and technical aspects of wetland delineation and emphasize the identification and application of wetland indicators. The cost of the course is $950 and provides 2.6 credit hours of specific wetland coursework toward the Society of Wetland Scientists' Professional Wetland Scientist certification and fulfills most state Department of Transportation wetland training requirements. For more information, download the event flyer. |
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Registration Continues, Keynote Speaker Announced for CATEE 2015 Conference
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There's still time to register for the Clean Air Through Energy Efficiency (CATEE) 2015 Conference December 1-3 at the Hotel Galvez & Spa in Galveston.
CATEE organizers are pleased to announce the opening keynote speaker on Wednesday, December 2, will be Matthew Tejada, Ph.D., Director of the Office of Environmental Justice for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Dr. Tejada, a native of Fort Worth, leads the Office of Environmental Justice in working with communities, other EPA divisions, federal agencies, and state, local and tribal partners to further the mission of the EPA and the goals of the Office of Environmental Justice.
Event organizers are also seeking nominations for the annual CATEE Awards. Individuals, organizations, and companies that have demonstrated outstanding or unique contributions to clean air through energy efficiency and renewable energy actions or programs are eligible. Nominations are due by Monday, November 9, and award recipients will be recognized at the conference.
CATEE 2015 is a premier educational conference and energy-related business expo aimed at local governments, business and civic leaders, and the development community. Its purpose is to facilitate implementation of energy efficiency in the built environment by sharing effective policies, new technologies, best practices, and local successes.
For more information, contact Tammy Persky at 979-458-3437. |
| Registration Open for State of the Bay Symposium |
|  Registration is now open for the Galveston Bay Estuary Program 10th Annual State of the Bay Symposium: 20 Years of Successfully Preserving Galveston Bay on January 13-14, 2016, at the Moody Gardens Hotel and Convention Center, Galveston.
Early registration (before Friday, December 11) is $179. Student discounts are available.
A tentative agenda has also been released, including the following sessions led by H-GAC staff:
- Public Outreach Toolbox by Amanda Thorin
- Flushing Out Onsite Sewage Facility (OSSF) Problems: Innovative Mapping and Education Help Lead the Way by Will Merrell
- Watershed Protection Planning: Stakeholder Involvement - Cedar Bayou Watershed Partnership by Justin Bower
- Designing for Impact: Promoting Low Impact Development in the Houston-Galveston Region by Mary Martha Gaiennie
- Trash Bash: 22 Years of Education and Outreach on Trash Pollution in the Galveston Bay Watershed by Rebecca Begley
More information is available online. |
| KTB Announces Registration for Great American Cleanup, Seeks Awards Judges |
|  Plans are already underway across the country for the Great American Cleanup, the nation's largest community improvement program, from March 1 to May 31, 2016. Keep Texas Beautiful (KTB) is asking everyone planning to host a cleanup event during this time to register to gain access to valuable resources and materials for planning, promoting and hosting the event, such as trash bags, banners, gloves, and giveaways. Also, be sure to add your event to the KTB calendar. In addition to offering an event planning and implementation toolkit, KTB is has also scheduled two planning webinars on Thursday, December 17, and Tuesday, January 5, 2016. Both webinars are free and begin at 11 a.m. Interested in helping celebrate individual and community efforts to keep Texas clean? Apply to be a volunteer judge for the Keep Texas Beautiful and Governor's Community Achievement Awards. Judging will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, February 29, 2016, Tuesday, March 1, 2016, and Monday, May 9, 2016. The deadline to submit your application to be a judge is Monday, January 11, 2016. |
| Students Can Enter Recycling-themed Video, Poster Contest |
The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries is accepting entries for its annual video and poster contest for students. The theme for 2015-16 is "Recycling is Bigger Than the Bin" and students in K-12 are invited to participate.
Videos should reflect finding a way to recycle large commodities, such as steel, paper, plastic, or tires.
All entries must be submitted by Friday, December 18.
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| RecycleMania Competition to Challenge Colleges and Universities Across the Country |
|  Colleges and universities around the region can participate in RecycleMania, a friendly competition to promote waste reduction activities on campus. During the eight-week challenge, colleges across the U.S. and Canada report the amount of trash and recycling they collect each week and are ranked in various categories. Winning schools in each category are recognized on the RecycleMania website and earn the right to host that category's traveling trophy for the coming year.
The tournament begins on February 7, 2016. More information, including rules, frequently asked questions, and an event calendar, is available online.
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| News from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency |
|  EPA Helps Protect Waters in Texas with $63.5M Grant
EPA awarded the Texas Water Development Board a grant of more than $63.5 million to fund clean water projects in the state. The grant goes to the state's Clean Water Revolving Loan Fund (CWSRF) which provides low-interest, flexible loans to communities to help them improve water quality and infrastructure. These funds will be used by the State of Texas to provide loans and other types of financial assistance to communities and state agencies for wastewater improvements. This will help improve water quality in streams, lakes, rivers, and bays, benefiting aquatic life and sources of drinking water. It can also contribute to improved public health by reducing hazards such as raw sewage discharges. For more than 25 years, the CWSRF has served as the nation's largest source of water quality financing, helping communities improve water quality, protect aquatic wildlife, protect and restore drinking water sources, and preserving our waters for recreational use. Since 1987, CWSRFs have provided $105.4 billion to communities through 34,900 low-cost loans. EPA Awards WaterSense Partners of the Year
EPA recently recognized the 2015 WaterSense award winners for creating, rebating, communicating, and educating consumers about WaterSense-labeled products, homes and programs. These 17 winners and more than 1,700 other WaterSense partners have helped Americans save 1.1 trillion gallons of water and $21.7 billion in water and energy bills since 2006. Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Dallas received Promotional Partner of the Year recognition for using a Mobile WaterSense Home and dual-flush toilet and irrigation controller demonstrations to educate consumers about WaterSense-labeled products at regional events. The Center's successful Find It, Flag It, Fix It campaign helped homeowners identify irrigation system leaks for Fix a Leak Week 2014. New Website Highlights State Practices for Climate Adaptation
EPA released a new webpage showcasing innovative practices of state water agencies to reduce vulnerability to climate change impacts. The new webpage contains short descriptions of select climate adaptation related practices in diverse programmatic areas and geographic locations around the country. These state practices can be a resource for other state agencies, as well as local and tribal governments, seeking to engage in climate adaptation efforts within their own water programs. EPA intends to identify additional best practices over time to help sustain collaboration and sharing of information across state water agencies. Webinar on November 3 on Winter O&M for Green Infrastructure
EPA will host a "Winter O&M for Green Infrastructure" webinar on Tuesday, November 3, from noon to 1:30 p.m. Operations and maintenance (O&M) is critical to green infrastructure's long-term effectiveness. Wet weather in colder climates often presents maintenance challenges -- from snow, sediment and salt to storage and drainage. This webinar will feature presentations from Tom Ballestero from the University of New Hampshire Stormwater Center, and Brooke Asleson from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. |
Funding Opportunities
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Urban Waters Small Grants Program
The
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Urban Waters Small Grants Program is seeking proposals for projects that will advance EPA's water quality and environmental justice goals. Proposed projects will address urban runoff pollution through diverse partnerships that produce multiple community benefits, with emphasis on underserved communities. The proposed project activities must take place entirely within one of the
eligible geographic areas. The deadline to apply is
Friday, November 20.
TCEQ Clean School Bus Program Grants
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality's Texas Clean School Bus Program is accepting grant applications from schools to retrofit eligible diesel-powered school buses with emissions-reduction technology. This grant opportunity is open to all public and charter schools in Texas that operate one or more diesel-powered school buses. While a school district may apply for any amount of funding, the TCEQ has limited funds and will review applications on a first-come, first-served basis. The deadline to apply is Wednesday, December 2.
NOAA Gulf-B WET Program
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Marine Fisheries Service Southeast Region is seeking proposals for the
Gulf of Mexico-Bay Watershed Education and Training (GULF B-WET) Program. The program is an environmental education program that promotes locally relevant, experiential learning in the K-12 environment. Funded projects provide meaningful watershed educational experiences for students, related professional development for teachers, and help to support regional education and environmental priorities in the Gulf of Mexico. The deadline to apply is
Friday, December 11.
FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program
The president declared a major disaster for the State of Texas following the dangerous flooding earlier this year. Funding for FEMA-4223-DR is now available statewide through the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. Funding priority will be given to projects including flood control, demolition, and individual and community safe rooms. The deadline to apply is Tuesday, December 15.
Recreational Trail Grants
Texas Parks and Wildlife is accepting applications for the
Recreational Trail Program. This is a reimbursable grant program to cover up to 80 percent of project cost with a maximum of $200,000 for non-motorized trail grants and $400,000 for motorized off-highway vehicle grants. Funds can be spent on both motorized and non-motorized recreational trail projects that are open and accessible to the general public, such as the construction of new recreational trails, improving existing trails, to developing trailheads or trailside facilities, and acquiring trail corridors. The deadline to apply is
Monday, February 1, 2016.
EPA Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem Solving Grants
The U.S. EPA is seeking applicants for a total of $1.2 million in
Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving grants. Cooperative agreements may be awarded to local community-based organizations seeking to address environmental and/or public health concerns in their communities through collaboration with other stakeholders, such as state and local governments, industry, academia, or non-governmental organizations. The deadline to apply is
Friday, February 12, 2016.
TCEQ Light-Duty Purchase or Lease Incentive Program
The TCEQ is offering up to $7.7 million in incentives toward the purchase or lease of eligible new vehicles powered by compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied petroleum gas (propane), or electric drives. Visit the
Texas Emissions Reduction Plan (TERP) website for more information, including deadlines.
Advocacy Advance Rapid Response Grants
Advocacy Advance Rapid Response Grants help state and local organizations take advantage of unexpected opportunities to win, increase, or preserve funding for biking and walking. Detailed guidelines, criteria, and application requirements are available
online.
Rapid Response Grant applications will be accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year.
All content, including links to other websites, is for informational purposes only. Users of this content are responsible for checking its accuracy, currency, and suitability.
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| Community and Environmental Planning |
| Loan Programs H-GAC's Community and Environmental Planning Department currently manages three loan programs------the Small Business Administration 504 Loan Program, the Business Loan Fund, and the Government Loan Fund.  The SBA 504 Loan Program provides long-term business expansion financing for real estate, construction and equipment purchases.
The Business Loan Fund assists small businesses in the Houston-Galveston region.
The Government Loan Fund assists local governments and school districts in the Houston-Galveston region.
Anyone interested in applying for a loan or getting more information should contact [email protected]. Mapping Applications and GIS Data  If you are looking for maps, mapping applications, or GIS data related to the H-GAC Community and Environmental Planning Department, visit www.h-gac.com/go/cegis to see the latest information, including Census, Regional Forecast, and more. Map Book provides maps in several formats for printing. Mobile applications are available.
Facebook  H-GAC has a Facebook page where information about current and upcoming events is posted. Please visit and like H-GAC's page. While there, visit other H-GAC pages on Facebook, including Recycling, Trash Bash, Bacteria Implementation Group (BIG), and Cedar Bayou Watershed Partnership.
Twitter  Find the latest information about activities around the region at H-GAC's Twitter Feed @hgaccog. H-GAC's water resources department program also offers Twitter updates on water quality issues in the region, including fish consumption advisories @HGACwater.
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